Diagnostic table



Sept. 15, f N. FRUTKOW ETAL 1,823,534 DIAGNOSTIC TABLE Filed 0012.20. 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 15, 1931.

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N. FRUTKOW ET AL v DIAGNOSTIC TABLE Filed Oct. 20. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 S p 1931- N. FRUTKOW ET AL 1,823,534

DIAGNOSTIC TABLE Filed Qct. 20. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE NATHANIEL FRUTKOW AND ANTONIUS J'. VIKEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS DIAGNOSTIC TABLE Application filed October 20, 1928. Serial No. 313,920.

' diagnosing ailments and for similar purposes. The table herein disclosed is especially intended for use in making examinations of the interior portions of the body without having to resort to surgery. This 1 device is also so arranged and constructed that the operation of the various organs may be watched and followed for considerable lengths of time so that the observer may be 'fully informed as to the actual conditions of said parts and whether or not they are functioning in a normal manner; and if they are not functioning in a normal manner the observer can readily determine the abnormalities of such functioning and thus be materially assisted in arriving at the proper treatment to administer. All of these things are also true with respect to circulations of Vital fluids such-for example as the circulation of the blood both through the blood vessels and through the veins. It

is also believed that the tableof the present invention may be successfully used for observing the flow of such other vital fluids as the lymphatic fluids. In order that the present lIlVGlltlOIlHlZLY be better understood and the significance of the various structures be better appreciated We will first state that according to our method we make provision for supporting the patient in a convenient horizontal position so that the desired portions of his body will be properly supported and may be readily observed. We make provision also for subjecting the selected portion of the body to the action of a powerful light, generally coming from below, which light-is so powerful as to substantially penetrate through the tissues and other bodily parts of the patient so that the internal organs become to some extent visible when the pa tients body is viewed from the side opposite to the light source. Such viewing; and examination is facilitated by a suitable microscope or similar instrument. properly supported in a convenient position at the viewing side of the patient.

Owing to the very intense degree of illumination used in accomplishing the above result a considerable amount of heat is generated. This heat if allowed to accumulate would become a serious obstacle to the successful practice of the examination process. We have therefore provided for removing and eliminating this dangerous condition; by a current of air which is continuously applied to the surface of the patient at the point of light impingement. This current of air serves to carry away the excess heat so generated and avoids any accumulation thereof at the point in question.

The microscope is so positioned as to make it feasible to examine the portion of the patients bodywhich is so illuminated. The microscope is also adjustable as respects the position of its focal point so that it can be brought to focus at any particular depth of the bodybeing examined throughout the area or field which is being'so illuminated. Ac-

cordingly, upon illuminating a certain field or portion of the patients body the microscope may be adjusted to examine any portion of the body within that field and may also be brought tofocus for examination of any portion of the body within the thickness or depth of the body. Thismakes it possible to actually examine by the microscope interior portions of the body below the surface so that theirfunction and conditions of vitality and the like may be observed for considerable intervals of time.

Ordinarily it is only desired to make a diagnostic examination of some particular field or portion of the body at any one time. For example such examination may be directed to heart and surrounding tissues; or it maybe directed to the stomach and intestines or any other selected portion. Consequently it is ordinarily unnecessary to make provision for illuminating the entire area of the body at any one time although of course such entire illumination could be e-ffected if desired. We have therefore provided an arrangement whereby the illumination may be directed to cover a general portion or area of the body of sufficient size to encompass any ordinary examination as for example an area of a foot or eighteen inches in each direction. This particular area is fully illuminated to the suflicient degree to accomplish the desired result. The arrangement is then made so that the light source may be moved into other positions for carrying on a diagnostic examination of other Slmllal areas.

We have likewise provided for proper and adequate support of the patients entire body so as to support the patient in a reasonably comfortable condition and position and in a manner such that the interior organs may .occupy a more or less normal position and relationship. Likewise we have made pro- ,vision for exposing the selected areaof the body to the illumination, this result being accomplished by sectionalizing the supporting surface of the table so that the desired sections may be removed to permit examination of the bodily area in question.

e have also made provision for coordinating the microscope support with the lamp support so that as the lamps are moved around or back and forth to illuminate different bodily areas the miscroscope support will likewise be maintained in co-ordinated relationship.

Similarly, we have provided a movable or adjustable blower arrangement in conjunction with the lamps so that the aforesaid current of air will always be supplied to the lamps by a very direct and short connection and always under the same operating and air circulating conditions.

Generally speaking we have built the entire structure into a fairly compact and closely knit arrangement in which the different parts are properly co-ordinated in a .simple manner.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a diagnostic table embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a plan view corresponding to .Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a cross section substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 shows a longitudinally vertical section substantially on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 shows a plan section substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 3, looking in the -direction of the arrows.

Generally speaking the diagnostic table includes a platform or shelf 6 of aluminum or similar suitable material. The side portions 7 and 8 of this platform are flat and general curvature of the body. The side and end portions 7, 8, 9 and 10 are preferably integral and may be made up as a solid casting.

The central portion of the table is open but is provided with a series of longitudinally extending ribs 11 which reach from the end 9 to the end 10, and is also provided with a series of curved transverse ribs 12 which are formed on the same curvature as the ends 9 and 10, said ribs 12 reaching across the opening between the sides 7 and 8. By this arrangement there is established a checkered opening having a large number of substantially square holes or sections 13 (see Fig. 4) said holes or sections being divided by the ribs aforesaid, together with the sides and ends of the main portion of the platform.

The ribs 11 and 12 are preferably tapered in width as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, so as to present narrow bottom edges and broader top faces. These top faces are broad enough to support the table sections presently to be explained but are not so broad as to seriously interfere with the diag nostic illumination.

There are provided table sections 14 corresponding to the different openings aforesaid. Each of these sections 14 preferably includes a metal base block 15 of aluminum .or the like having a peripheral flange 16 around its upper edge, said flange 16 being of'proper size to overlie approximately one half the width of the adjacent ribs 11 and make the surface more comfortable and pro- .vide a slight yieldability.

The different table sections 14 are straight in a direction lengthwise to the table, but are curved at right angles thereto so as to conform to the curvature of the central portion of the table and as defined by the ribs 12 (see Fig. 3). Furthermore the different sections 14 are so arranged that when set into place in the different table openings they will establish a substantially continuous support for the body.

One or more of the table sections 14 may be readily lifted away from the grid portion of the table so as to expose an opening or openings as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. If the patients body overlies said opening it will be adequately supported all around the openings, the size of the opening not being excessively large although large enough to allow for examination of such an area as already referred to. The size of this area will of course depend on the 'number of sections 14 which are removed from the grid.

The table section is readily supported in igssasaa any convenient manner. Thus, for example, it may be provided with a reinforcement bar around the entire grid area, such for example as the angle bar 18 (see Figs. 3 and 4); and said angle bar may be in turn supported: by the upstanding edges of the housing sheets. These housing sheets include side sheets 19 and 20 and end sheets 21 and 22. It will be noticed that the lower portion of these sheets are vertical so as to provide a boxlike enclosure, and the upper portions of said sheets are then flared or folded inwardly on an angle of substantially 45 and into contact with the angle reinforcing bar 18 already referred to. The lower portions of the side and end sheets are secured to a base plate 23,. such connection being reinforced if desired by angle bars 24. Other angle bars 25 may also be placed horizontally along the side and end sheets substantially at the position of the fold line or plane where said sheets are turned inwardly on an angle of 45 degrees as already referred to.

Preferably supplementary side and end sheets 26, 27, 28 and 29 are also provided around the upper portion of the housing and above the fold lines of the first mentioned side and end sheets so as to complete the rectangular form of the housing above the fold lines referred to.

Located beneath the grid portion of the table there is one or more powerful light sources which can be moved into different positions. In the particular construction illustrated two of these devices are shown the same being numbered 30 and 31 respectively. The particular details of construction of these light sources are a matter of selection by the designer; and we may state at this point that we have in a co-pending application for Letters Patent of the United States on therapeutic lamps made full disclosure of lamps which are suitable for this particular service.

We may state preferably, however, that each of the lamps illustrated herein includes a cylindrical shell 32 the bottom 33 of which is preferably in the form of a parabolic refiector, the lamp 34 being located within the housing at such a point that the rays thrown backwardly from the filament will be reflected forwardly again in a substantially parallel although a slightly converging and very powerful beam;

Around the upper or open end of the cylindrical housing there are located a series of air nozzles 35 through which the air stream is delivered as already referred to.

Each of the cylindrical lamp housings 32 is preferably slidably mounted within a sleeve or collar 36-; and a rack and pinion arrangement 37 is provided for raising and lowering the cylindrical housing 32 with respect to said sleeve 36. The pinion of each rack and pinion combination is carried on a short shaft 38 having a knob or hand wheel 39 by means of which the adjustment is easily made.

Each of the lamp sleeves 36 is mounted in a collar 40 by pivotal mountings 41 located at diametrically opposite points so that the lamp housing may be rocked about a horizontal lon itudinally extending axis. Each of the cohars40 is in turn mounted within a frame 42 to which it is pivotally connected by means of pivotal connections 43 so that said frame 40 may be rocked about a transverse horizontal axis. This doublemounting establishes in effect a universal. joint support for each of the lamp housings so that the same can be tilted either about a longitudinal or transverse axis or about both of these axes at one time.

Each of the frames 42 has a downwardly extendinglugs 44 which are slidably mounted on a pair oflongitudinally extending supporting rails 45 and 46.

This arrangement permits the frame 42, carrying the lamp housing to be shifted lengthwise of the table from one end to the other thereof.

The end portions of the rails 45 and 46 are connected together by brackets 47' and 48 which are in turn provided with lugs 49 working on transverse horizontal rails 50 and 51. These latter are suitably mounted in the frame of the machine such as by means of collars 52 riveted or otherwise secured to the side sheets 19 and 20.

Preferably the machine is provided with two of, the lamp housings and connected parts, for which purpose there are the two sets of rails 45 and 46 as illustrated particularly in Fig. 5, both of said rails being J series of I slidably mounted on the same end rails 50 and 51.

Each of the frames 42 also carries a centrifugal blower 52 driven by an electric motor 53; and each blower 52 in turn suplamp housing which it supplies we are able to insure deliveries of the air current at all times through a very short and direct connection.

At each end of the housing there is provided a pair of chain loops 55 and 56, the chains 55 being located at a higher elevation than the chains 56. Suit-able sprockets 57 are provided for these chains, said sprockets being mounted on stub shafts 58 -which are journaled in the housing and reach to the outside thereof where they are provided with hand wheels 59.

The lower passes of the upper chains are connected to the brackets 17 and 4:8 for one of the lamp housings; and the upper passes of the other chains 56 are connected to the end brackets 47 and 48 for the other lamp housing. By this arrangement it is possible to move the rail frame 45 and 46 back and forth independently of each other so as to shift the lamps across the width of the machine independently of each other (subject to the limitation that the lamp housing 30 always stands to the left of the lamp housing 31 when viewed as in Fig. 3).

The lamp housings may be shifted lengthwise of the machine in any convenient manner; but ordinary hand operations will be suitable. To facilitate such adjustments we haveprovided the doors 60 in the sine sheets of the housing of the machine, there preferably being two such doors in each side. The door openings are conveniently protected and reinforced by means of angle flange G1 surrounding said openings. These door openings also permit convenient access to the knobs of the hand wheels 39 by means of which the lamps are adjusted vertically towards and from the bottom of the table,

Secured to the lower faces of the side portions 7 and 8 of the table there are the guiding and supporting rails 62 and 63 (see Fig. 1 in particular). These are provided with mortised grooves which receive bracket fixtures 6 1 and 65 in a slidable manner so that said fixt res can be moved back and forth through the length of the table.

The fixtures G l and 65 carry the upstanding brackets 66 and 67 and the tubes and rails 68 and 69 are supported between the upper ends of these brackets 66 and 67.

I microscope carriage 70 is slidably mounted on the rails 68 and 69 and may be readily manipulated back and forth thereon by reason of the knobs or handles 71 which are provided for making such adjustments.

WVithin the carriage 70 there is pivotally mounted a ring 72, the same being pivoted on the pivot points 73 which are located diametrically opposite from each other and permit the ring 72 to be swung about a horizontal transverse axis.

The microscope 7a is swivelled within the ring 72 to which it is pivoted on the pivot points 75 so that the microscope can be tilted about a horizontal longitudinally extending axis. This system of supporting therefore allows the microscope to be adjusted by what may be considered to be a universal joint support.

The microscope is provided with the usual telescoping barrel 76 and with the milled knob 77 by means of which the telescoping action is v adjusted.

of the machine on the transverse shafts 83 and 84. Said shafts extend to the outsides of the machine through the frame plates 26 and 28 and carry the operating hand wheels 85 and 86. The top passes of the two chain loops 80 and 81 are connected to the brackets 64 and 65 respectively. Consequently by turning any one of the hand wheels 85 or 86 both of the chains 80 and 81 will be simultaneously shifted so as to shift both of the bracket members 64 and 65 in the same direction thereby also shifting the microscope lengthwise of the machine to the desired position.

From the above it will be evident that in addition to the principle of diagnostic examination herein set forth we have also illustrated and described a satisfactory form of diagnostic table by means of which said system of examination may be practised.

While we have herein shown and described only a single embodiment of the features of our present invention still we do not intend to limit ourselves thereto except as We may do so in the claims.

o claim:

1. A device of the class described including a platform which is curved to conform to the contour of the body, said platform comprising a series of longitudinally and transversely extending ribs constituting a grid having a series of substantially rectangular openings therein, a series of removable platform sections for said openings of proper size and shape toseat into the openings and rest upon the ribs of the grid and thereby establish a substantially continuous platform surface of said curvature, a lamp element located beneath the platform aforesaid and including a cylindrical housing open at its top end and having an upwardly reflecting surface at its lower end, a lamp within said housing and adapted to throw a powerful illumination upwardly through the open upper end of said housing, there being a series of upwardly directed air blast discharge openings at the upperend of said housing, a motor driven blower adjacent to the housing, a connectlon therefrom to the passages aforesaid, a frame for said lamp housing and said motor driven blower, a

universal joint support bet-ween said lamp housing and said frame permitting the lamp housing to be tilted in different directions while maintaining connection with said blower, a suitable carriage for said frame, means for shifting said carriage longitudinally and also transversely with respect to the platform, a micro-scope located above the platform, a frame for said microscope, a universal joint support for the same permitting said microscope to be turned into different directions, a carriage for said microscope frame, and means for shifting said carriage longitudinally and also transversely with respect to the platform, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described including a platform, said platform comprising a series of longitudinally and transversely extending ribs constituting a grid having a series of substantially rectangular openings therein, a series of removable platform sections for said openings of proper size and shape to seat into the openings and rest upon the ribs of the grid and thereby establish a substantially continuous platform surface, a lamp element located beneath the platform aforesaid and including a cylindrical housing open at its top end and having an upwardly reflecting surface at its lower end, a lamp within said housing and adapted to throw a powerful illumination upwardly through the open upper end of said housing, there being a series of upwardly directed air blast discharge openings at the upper end of said housing, a motor driven blower adjacent to the housing, a connection therefrom to the passages aforesaid, a frame for said lamp housing and said motor driven blow r, a universal joint support between said lamp housing and said frame permitting the lamp housing to be tilted in different directions while maintaining connection with said blower, a carriage for said frame, means for shift-ing said carriage longitudinally and also transversely with respect to the platform, amicroscope located above the platform, a frame for said microscope, a universal joint support for the same permitting said microscope to be turned into different directions, a carriage for said microscope frame, and means for shifting said carriage longitudinally and also transversely with respect to the platform, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described including a platform, said platform comprising a series of longitudinally and transversely extending ribs constituting a grid having a series of substantially rectangular openings therein, a lamp element located beneath the platform aforesaid and including a cylindrical housin open at its top end and having an upwardly reflecting surface at its lower end, a lamp within said housing and adapted to throw a powerful illumination upwardly through the open upper end of said housing, there being a series of upwardly directed air blast discharge openings at the upper end of said housing, a motor driven blower adjacent to the housing, a connection therefrom to the passages aforesaid, a frame'for said lamp housing and said motor driven blower, a universal joint support between said lamp housing and said frame permitting the lamp housing to be tilted in differentdirections while maintaining connection with said blower, a carriage for said frame, means for shifting said carriage longitudinally and also transversely with respect to the platform, a microscope lo'catedabove the platform, a frame for said microscope, a universal joint support for' the same permitting said microscope to beturned into different directions, a carriage for said microscope frame, and means for shifting said carriage longitudinally and also transversely with respect to the platform, substantially as described.

4. A. device of the class described including a platform for the support of a human body and having a series of openings therein, a lamp element located beneath said platform and adapted to throw a powerful illumination upwardly, a frame for said lamp, a universal oint support between said lamp and said frame permitting the lamp to be tilted in different directions, a carriage for said frame, means for shifting said carriage longitudinally and also transversely with respect to the platform to thereby bring' the lamp'into alignment with a selected portion ofthe-platform, a microscope located above the platform, a frame for said microscope, a universal joint support for the same permitting said microscope to be turned into different directions, a carriage for said microscope frame, and means for shifting said carriage longitudinally and also transversely with respect to the platform, substantially as described.

5. A device of the class described including a platform for support of a human body, said platform being provided with a series of openings, a powerful lamp element located beneath the platform, a carriage support for said lamp element, means permitting adjustment of said support longitudinally and transversely with respect to the platform, to thereby bring the lamp element into position adjacent to a selected portion of the platform, means for adjusting the lamp element'towards and from the platform, a microscope above the platform, a

suitable support for the same, means for,

shifting said microscope support longitudinally and also transversely, with respect to the platform, and means for adjusting the microscope towards and from the platform,

substantially as described.

6. Adevice of the class describedincluding a platform for support of a human body, said platform being provided with a series of openings, a powerful lamp element located beneath the platform, a carriage support for said lamp element, means permitting adjustment of said support longitudinally and transversely with respect to the platform, to thereby bring the lamp element into position adjacent to a selected portion of the platform, a microscope above the platform, a suitable support for the same and means for shifting said microscope support longitudinally and also transversely with respect to the platform, substantially as described.

7. A device of the class described including a platform for the support of a human body, there being an opening in said platform, a lamp element beneath the platform, means for supporting said lamp element and for adjusting the position of the lamp element longitudinally and also transversely with respect to said opening, means for adjustingthe lamp element towards and from the opening, a microscope located above the platform, means for supporting said micromeans for directing a current of cooling air on to the surface of the body at the position so illuminated for cooling purposes, and a suitable viewing device located above the platform in position to examine the portion of the body so illuminated, substantially as described.

NATHANIEL FRUTKOW.

ANTONIUS J. VIKEN.

scope and for adjusting the position of the microscope longitudinally and also transversely with respect to the platform, and means for adjusting the microscope towards and from the platform substantially as described. I

8. A device of the class described including a platform for the support of a human body, there being an opening in said platform, a lamp element beneath the platform,

means for supporting said lamp element and for adjusting the position of the lamp ele ment longitudinally and also transversely with respect to said opening, a microscope located above the platform, and means for supporting said microscope and for adjusting the position of the microscope longitudinally and also transversely with respect to the platform, substantially as described.

9. A device of the class described including a platform for the support of a human body and having a light transmitting opening, a lamp element located beneath the platform and adapted to throw a powerful illumination upwardly towards the platform, means for adjusting said illumination into desired position with respect to the platform, a microscope located above the platform, and means for adjusting the position of said microscope with respect to the platform for the purpose of bringing said microscope to focus at a desired point within a body under observation, substantially as described.

10. A device of the class described, including a platform for the support of a human body and having a light transmitting opening, a lamp element located beneath the platform and adapted to throw a powerful illumination upwardly towards the platform, 

